Author Archives: Royce

Sep 10 2009

On Mission with God


The humble saints who worship at the Hemley Road church of Christ will probably never set foot in a foreign country. The economy in Bayou La Batre, Alabama is awful with unemployment at many times the rest of the nation. They are truly living by faith, trusting God day by day to provide the means to run church vans to gather children and those without transportation, pay utilities, and feed the hungry, etc. How then can this little flock carry out the great commission given to all believers?

They have been faithful with what they have been given and without realizing it have become a model of church ministry. They are salt and light in their community, loving the down and out folks, rebuilding homes and lives, feeding the hungry, and loving those who need love most. And, they are touching the world.

I noticed with admiration that soon after they became a local church they started to give to World Radio, helping to get the good news about Jesus to a needy world. Recently, their ministry became international. No, they have not been on a mission trip across the sea, God brought Bolivia to them.

When Carol and I visited Hemley Rd Easter weekend three men from Bolivia attended services. They had recently moved to Bayou La Batry to work in a sea food packing plant. None of the three men spoke English. So, they communicated with the universal language of love. Smiles and hugs, shared meals, and rides to Wal-Mart were some of the ways they loved these foreigners. At once they started to imagine ways to reach them with the good news about Jesus and they have.

One of the men, Roberto, was recently baptised. This past Sunday when I spoke at the church a young hispanic man stood with me and interpreted my message to those in the audience who only understand Spanish. This young man is the son of the Summerdale church’s hispanic minister. They have song books with both English and Spanish, side by side.

One expression of Roberto’s gratitude and affection for his new family is this beautiful mural he painted behind the baptistery where he reenacted the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

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This is a wonderful example of Christians seeing what God is doing and joining him in his mission. God’s agenda most often cannot be accomplished by plans and programs. By being faithful with what they have been given the church in Bayou La Batre has been able to touch Bolivia. Who knows what God will do in the lives of Roberto’s family and friends in Bolivia?

What is the lesson here? Become aware of what God is doing and join him in that mission. No program, no planning, is better than what God is already doing. When will you or your church have an opportunity to join God in his redemptive work. Your “Roberto” is waiting…

for Jesus,
Royce

Aug 31 2009

Four Vital Choices


ewfattyWhen I returned from a weekend trip I found this  gracEmail from Edward Fudge (http://edwardfudge.com). I quote it here and solicit your comments.

For Christians other than Lutherans and Calvinists, the four gospel slogans: “grace alone, Christ alone, faith alone, Scripture alone,” might sound less than obvious. The third expression (“faith alone”) sometimes even provokes a vigorous denial. But properly understood, the four Reformation motto’s well summarize biblical teaching about our salvation. How would you complete each of the following sentences?

* * *

1. God saves us as a matter of: (a) grace alone (wholly a gift)? (b) grace partially (somewhat a gift; somewhat merited)? or (c) grace not at all (wholly merited)? We affirm that God saves us as a matter of grace alone (wholly a gift). Luke 17:10; Romans 5:8-10.

2. God is gracious to us because of the pleasing activity of: (a) Christ alone, as our representative (entirely his obedience)? (b) Christ partially (partly Christ’s obedience; partly our obedience)? or (c) Christ not at all (entirely our obedience)? We affirm that God is gracious to us because of the obedience of Christ alone as our representative (entirely his obedience). 2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Colossians 1:19-22; Titus 3:4-7; Hebrews 10:5-10, 14.

3. We receive, experience and enjoy God’s gracious favor and salvation through: (a) faith alone (wholly relying on God for it)? (b) faith partially (somewhat relying on God for it; somewhat relying on something else)? or (c) faith not at all (wholly relying on something/someone other than God)? We affirm that we receive, experience and enjoy God’s gracious favor and salvation through faith alone (wholly relying on God for it.). Romans 3:21-27; Romans 4:1-5, 23-25.

4. These principles are true because they rest on the authority of: (a) Scripture alone (our only appeal is to the Bible)? (b) Scripture partially (we appeal to the Bible in part; to other authorities in part)? or (c) Scripture not at all (our only appeal is to authorities besides the Bible)? We affirm that these principles are true because they rest on the authority of Scripture alone (our only appeal is to the Bible.). 2 Timothy 3:14-15; 2 Peter 1:16-21.

_______________________

Copyright 2009 by Edward Fudge. Permission hereby given to forward, copy and distribute in any quantity, so long as no changes are made, this paragraph is included, and no financial profit is involved.

I’m curious, how do you respond to these four statements and the questions Edward Fudge asks?

Some church of Christ people will balk at the word “Reformed” and dismiss the whole because of that one word. Do I believe what I believe because I have found it in Scripture or because someone said it’s true? I fear that far too many fall into the latter category.

Your thoughts?

Royce

Aug 27 2009

Cash for Clunkers Misfires


The Obama administration’s “Cash for Clunkers” program misfires terribly! The clunkers deal is another example of how liberal policy makers short sightedness sorely miss the mark of actually being helpful to the American people

“Clunkers” misfired in several ways. Who was helped most? Was it the United States? If you guessed yes you were wrong. The Japanese and Koreans got top billing. Toyota, Nissan, and Hyundai outsold domestic brands in a big way. Ford trucks did well, but the Japanese and Korean brands beat the big 3 by a two to one margin in car sales.

Typical of government managed programs, dealerships have complained that the gov’t website where they were to submit the voluminous info needed to apply for rebates was constantly unavailable because the servers could not handle the volume. The deadline was extended by a day to help alleviate the problem. Dealers also report that they are still waiting for the bulk of rebate money with many of them having not received a penny to date.

The big idea as I understand it was to get gas guzzelers off the road, give an economic shot in the arm to GM, Ford, and Chrysler, and lessen the U.S. carbon footprint. Just how successful has the program been?

It is true that all the U.S. brands sold more units, and finance companies made out like bandits as well. That is good isn’t it? But, it is good for only one narrow segment of the U.S. economy. Scratch the labor unions backs and they will scratch yours at the polling place is the bottom line.

Has anyone thought about the thousands of used car dealers whose inventory source temporarily dried up? They are U.S. citizens too, small business men and women who have families to feed. 700,000 cars and trucks is a huge hit for secondary dealers.

How many of those 700,000 will be repossessed in the next year? I’ll wager the number will be staggering. Any time the government is throwing cash around, greed and ignorance overwhelms common sense and people do dumb things. There is no doubt that many people signed up for loans they can’t repay. So, the end result for them is that they will be off their rubber wheels and on their rubber heels in a few months. How’s that for helping the economy?

Then there is the pollution question. Experts agree that the “Clunkers” program’s impact on carbon emissions is so minuscule it is hardly worth doing the math, so much for solving global warming.

I predict that even more than the $3 billion already allotted will be needed before all the dealers are paid. Do the math, the numbers don’t work. $3 billion to one narrow segment of the U.S. economy and that is good?

Democrats are all about style over substance. To them, posturing is every bit as important as actually doing something worthwhile. Weepy Hollywood types make dopey speeches about some cause in a far away place and are praised by the salivating media as if they are actually doing something to help. Cash for Clunkers is only the tip of the iceberg. Hang on baby, it’s gonna be a rough ride.

Liberalism unleased is a dangerous thing.

Royce

Aug 24 2009

The Wordsmith


Now for something lighter, and just so you’ll know that yours truly can turn a rhyme…. A poem I wrote in Dec of 2000. I awoke in the middle of the night, ran up to my office and as fast as I could type wrote “The Wordsmith”.

I am an artist but have no brush in hand. I am not a singer,
and I don’t have a band.

I don’t hammer on an anvil or shape a piece of steel,
or mold a lump of clay as it turns on a potter’s wheel.

I am a wordsmith and my art is words,
ideas covered in phrases and thoughts with noun and verb.

Common sense and wisdom are hidden in my heart,
until they are colored with the tapestry of my art.

I have never made a penny, yea, less than a widow’s mite,
but words placed on purpose give me great delight!

The way I arrange the letters allows all to see,
inside the artist’s mind and heart. What you really see is me.

It just makes me happy to write a line or two,
to unwrap my latest masterpiece for all the world to view.

I am a wordsmith and if all my art is read, I’ll be happy with my one color work if you listen to what I’ve said.

You don’t have to like my art, and you don’t have to agree,
but just knowing you have looked is good enough for me.

I would like to write for a living but it’s hard to get a start,
so how about a quarter? Can you find it in your heart?

Royce Ogle
Dec 31, 2000